May 3 Constitution Day rallies focus on defense of Article 9

Rallies and demonstrations were held throughout Japan on May 3 to mark the 56th anniversary of the Japanese Constitution, calling for the contingency bills to be blocked and the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution defended.

In Tokyo, about 2,500 citizens took part in the May 3 Constitution Rally at Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo. The main theme was:"Let the Constitution guide and stand firmly behind Article 9."

High school students, religious leaders, and lawyers as well as political leaders spoke.

Buddhist leader Ishikawa Yukichi from the Shinshu-Otani Sect stated, "Article 9, which stands for the highest ideals of humankind, accords with Buddhist teachings."

Essayist Pak Kyonnam, a Korean in Japan, stated that for him, with relatives in North and South Korea as well as in Japan, Japan's Constitution is a life line.

Speeches were made by Ikeda Kayoko, translator of "If the world was a village of 100 people"; Yamauchi Tokushin, former head of Okinawa's Yomitan Village; Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo (see separate item); and Social Democratic Party Leader Doi Takako.

Highly evaluating Japan's Constitution, Yamauchi stressed that Japan's Constitution is a compass showing the road to take in the 21st century world.

Doi criticized the Koizumi Cabinet for being hostile to the Constitution. saying, "This is the worst of all postwar cabinets in Japan." She also said, "There is no alternative but for the contingency bills to be completely scrapped."

Nagai Ken'ichi, professor emeritus at Hosei University, made a special report on the government plan to adversely revise the Fundamental Law of Education. He called on participants to take every effort to defend it and the Constitution.

Eight organizations, including the Liaison Council of Various Circles for Prevention of Mal-Revision of the Constitution, the Liaison Council of "2001 Women's Year of the Constitution," and the Christian Network for Peace, hosted the May 3 rally.

After the rally, participants marched in a demonstration through the Ginza district. (end)